Meeting Summary
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At a glance
Resolutions and Commendations
- Seven resolutions were adopted to honor organizational anniversaries, declare a prevention month, and recognize retiring staff members.
- The Board commended Assistant District Attorney Kelly Duncan, Sheriff's Custody Commander Sean Lamer, and Public Works employee Julie Hagen for their long service.
- Larry Harrow of the Planning and Development Department was named the December 2025 Employee of the Month.
Climate Superfund Legislation (AB 1243/SB 684)
- Staff presented an overview of bills creating a climate fund administered by Cal EPA using payments from fossil fuel companies.
- Public comment strongly supported holding fossil fuel companies accountable to reduce taxpayer burdens for resilience projects.
- The Board adopted the resolution supporting the legislation despite some concerns regarding blame assignment and efficacy mechanisms.
Haven Energy Battery Storage Agreement
- Staff proposed a memorandum of understanding allowing Haven Energy to install and maintain battery systems at two county facilities at no cost.
- Discussion focused on procurement procedures, sole-sourcing concerns, vendor accreditation, and long-term liability issues.
- The Board voted to continue the item to the next meeting to gather additional information on grant deadlines and future costs.
Isla Vista Rental Housing Inspection Pilot
- Staff provided an update on inspection activities, noting access difficulties due to tenant refusals and upcoming code changes.
- The Board supported the staff recommendation to proceed with the program under the new 2024 International Property Maintenance Code standards.
Community Corrections Partnership Jail Data Analysis
- A report indicated a rising jail population with a significant portion of unsentenced individuals and those with serious mental illness.
- Recommendations included expanding treatment access, the REDI program, and establishing a Jail Population Review and Advisory Team.
- The Board approved the formation of the advisory team and directed staff to provide an updated report in six months.
Mission Isla Vista Partners Housing Development Appeal
- An appeal regarding a 16-unit multifamily project was heard with arguments concerning safety, parking, and legal risks under the Housing Accountability Act.
- The item was temporarily trailed to draft a revised project description that increased parking capacity from 24 to approximately 36 spaces.
- Upon reconvening, the Board approved the staff recommendation with findings for the revised project description.
Transportation Impact Mitigation Fee Ordinance
- Staff presented an administrative update revising fee schedules and project lists for the Goleta and Orchid planning areas.
- The Board adopted the staff recommendation to ensure fees remain current with transportation impact requirements.
Planning and Development Department Fee Ordinance Update
- A proposal was approved to update fee schedules to improve cost recovery rates from approximately 82% to roughly 96%.
- Changes included reducing fees for smaller projects, increasing fees for complex projects, and implementing new surcharges.
- An amendment passed to move public television funding from the fee structure to the general fund to address affordability concerns.
Passed 4–1 · against: Nelson
Passed 4–1 · against: Nelson
Closed Session
- The Board discussed existing litigation regarding groundwater extraction in the Cuyama Valley Groundwater Basin.
- A performance evaluation for the County Executive Officer was also conducted during the closed session.
Full summary
Meeting Call to Order and Administrative Matters
- The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting for December 9, 2025, was called to order by Chair Kapsen, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes from the November 18, 2025, meeting; the motion passed. The County Executive Officer announced that Assistant County Executive Officer Tanya Heitman received the California State Association of Counties Circle of Service Award and noted the ongoing Toys for Tots campaign through December 17. The Clerk announced an addendum to Administrative Item 34 regarding final quantities for the Lower Mission Creek Reach 2B2 debris rack repair project and provided instructions on public participation. Several administrative items (A15, A16, A17, A18, A20, A24, A28, A41, and A42) were pulled from the agenda for separate discussion. A motion was made to approve the balance of the administrative agenda, excluding the pulled items and incorporating the addendum for Item 34; the motion was seconded and passed.
Resolutions
- Seven resolutions were presented, discussed, and adopted:
- Administrative Item 1: Honored 100 years of service by the Santa Barbara County Health Department. The resolution passed.
- Administrative Item 2: Honored the 125th anniversary of All Saints By The Sea Episcopal Church. The resolution passed.
- Administrative Item 3: Proclaimed December 2025 as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. The resolution passed.
- Administrative Item 4: Commended Assistant District Attorney Kelly Duncan upon her retirement after 22 years of service. The resolution passed.
- Administrative Item 5: Commended Sheriff's Custody Commander Sean Lamer upon his retirement after 27 years of service. The resolution passed.
- Administrative Item 6: Commended Julie Hagen upon her retirement from the Public Works Department after 28 years of service. The resolution passed.
- Administrative Item 7: Commended Larry Harrow of the Planning and Development Department as the December 2025 Employee of the Month. The resolution passed.
Pulled Administrative Items
- Administrative Item 15 (Community Services Department): Discussed a grant agreement with the California Arts Council for the Fiscal Year 2025–2026 State Local Partner grant. Staff highlighted the county's top ranking as an arts agency. The item was discussed for informational purposes; no formal vote was recorded.
- Administrative Item 16 (County Counsel): Concerned a First Amendment to an outside counsel contract with Myers-Nave, requiring a four-fifths vote. Public comment was received on unrelated topics. A motion was made to approve the staff recommendation, seconded, and passed.
- Administrative Item 17 (County Executive Office): Addressed recommendations regarding Assembly Bill 1243 and Senate Bill 684 ("Polluters Pay Climate Superfund"). Legislative staff provided an overview of the bills aimed at creating a fund administered by Cal EPA using payments from fossil fuel companies. Approximately 20 members of the public spoke in support, citing the need to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for climate damage and reduce taxpayer burdens. Board discussion included support based on funding resilience projects and reducing taxpayer burdens, as well as concerns regarding assigning blame and the mechanism's efficacy. A motion was made to adopt the resolution, seconded, and passed via roll call vote.
- Administrative Item 18 (Clerk of the Board): Concerned an application for the destruction of records, requiring a four-fifths vote. Public comment included opposition to record destruction and specific requests regarding litigation-related records in Lompoc. A motion was made to approve the staff recommendation, seconded, and passed via voice vote.
- Administrative Item 20 (Drought Resilience Plan): Considered recommendations regarding the county's drought resilience plan. Public comment included unrelated concerns regarding geoengineering. A motion was made to approve the staff recommendation, seconded, and passed via voice vote.
- Administrative Item 21 (EMCC Appointments): Considered appointments to the Emergency Medical Care Committee. Public comment included unrelated concerns regarding healthcare and government conspiracies. A motion was made to approve the staff recommendation, seconded, and passed via voice vote.
- Administrative Item 24 (Haven Energy Battery Storage): Concerned memorandums of understanding with Haven Energy for battery energy storage systems at two county facilities. Staff explained the agreement would allow the vendor to own and maintain batteries for ten years at no cost to the county, with estimated annual savings of $12,000. Board discussion focused on procurement procedures, concerns regarding sole-sourcing, vendor accreditation, long-term liability, and disposal costs. A motion was made to continue the item until the next meeting to obtain additional information on grant deadlines, future costs, and vendor qualifications; the motion was seconded and passed via voice vote.
- Administrative Item 28 (Isla Vista Rental Housing Inspection): Provided an update on the Isla Vista Rental Housing Inspection Pilot Program. Staff reported on inspection activities, access difficulties due to tenant refusals, and upcoming changes to occupancy standards under the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code. A motion was made to support the staff recommendation, seconded, and passed via voice vote.
- Administrative Item 41 (C4 Contribution): Considered a $50,000 contribution from discretionary funds to Collective Cultures Creating Change (C4) for its "Combating Youth Violence" project in Lompoc. A motion was made to approve the contribution, seconded, and passed via voice vote.
- Administrative Item 42 (Commission for Women Appointment): Considered the appointment of Linda Kessler to the Commission for Women for a term ending December 31, 2027. A motion was made to approve the appointment, seconded, and passed via voice vote.
General Public Comment
- Five members of the public spoke on non-agendized items regarding spiritual connections, meeting structure, unregulated sale of kratom products (7-hydroxymitragynine), budget disparities and a death in police custody, and a sewage spill from the Goleta West Sanitary District.
Departmental Items
- Item D1 (Community Services Department): Requested approval to utilize an extra help services waiver to rehire a 35-year employee with expertise in park revenues and financial operations. Board discussion focused on the necessity of retaining this talent during retirement transitions. A motion was made to approve staff recommendations A, B, and C; the motion was seconded and passed.
- Item D2 (Probation Department): Presented a Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) Jail Data Analysis Report. The report indicated an average daily jail population of approximately 745 in 2024, rising to 779 in early 2025, with a significant portion being unsentenced individuals and approximately 11% designated as having serious mental illness. Recommendations included expanding treatment access, the REDI program, and establishing a Jail Population Review and Advisory Team (JPRAT). Public comment supported funding alternatives to incarceration and increasing staffing for the Public Defender's Office. The item was treated as an informational hearing; no formal motion or vote was recorded in this segment.
- Item: JPRAT and CCP Update: Discussed the future work of the JPRAT, focusing on individual case-level data analysis to identify reasons for incarceration and length of stay. Staff proposed a six-month update cycle. A motion was made to approve staff recommendations A and B regarding the JPRAT/CCP work and to receive an updated report in six months; the motion was seconded and passed.
- Closed Session: The Board met in closed session to discuss existing litigation (Volt House Land Company LLC v. All Persons Claiming a Right to Extract or Store Groundwater in the Cuyama Valley Groundwater Basin) and public employee performance evaluation for the County Executive Officer. No reportable action was taken.
- Item: Appeal of Mission Isla Vista Partners LP Housing Development (Case No. 25 APL 10): Heard an appeal regarding a 16-unit, three-story multifamily housing development in Goleta. The appellant argued against the project citing safety and parking concerns, while the applicant urged approval to avoid delays and legal risks associated with the Housing Accountability Act's five-hearing limit. Board deliberation focused on procedural options, including continuing the item or approving a revised project description. The item was temporarily trailed to draft a revised project description. Upon reconvening, a revised description increasing parking capacity from 24 to approximately 36 spaces was presented and agreed to by the applicant. Supervisor Lee moved to approve the staff recommendation with findings for the revised project; Supervisor Hartman seconded. The motion passed.
- Item: Community Corrections Partnerships Warrant Analysis: Presented a report on over 9,000 active warrants, noting a 15-year low inventory with 80% being misdemeanor crimes. Strategies included batch dismissals of older warrants and intelligence-led operations. A motion was made to receive and file staff recommendations (Items A and B); the motion was seconded and passed.
- Item: Transportation Impact Mitigation Fee Ordinance: Presented an administrative update to fee schedules for Goleta and Orchid planning areas, involving revisions to project lists and fee adjustments. Board discussion addressed the necessity of keeping fees current. A motion was made to adopt the staff recommendation; the motion was seconded and passed.
- Item: Planning and Development Department Fee Ordinance Update: Presented a proposal to update fee schedules to improve cost recovery from approximately 82-88% to roughly 96-99%. Changes included reducing fees for smaller projects, increasing fees for larger complex projects, raising the appeal fee, and implementing new surcharges. Board discussion included concerns regarding the inclusion of a fee for public television (CSB TV) and barriers to housing affordability. A motion was made to adopt staff recommendations (Items A through C); the motion was seconded and passed via roll call vote. Subsequently, an amendment was proposed to move payment for public television from the fee structure to the general fund; this amendment was moved, seconded, and passed via roll call vote.
Adjournment
- The meeting was adjourned until the following Tuesday morning in Santa Maria.